Mexico attractions

This legendary market in Tijuana’s upscale Zona Rio neighborhood is about as authentic as Mexican markets come, with a cornucopia of produce, sweets, cheeses, and street food that can make a trip across the US-Mexico border worthwhile. Visit at the beginning of your trip for a taste of local color, or at the end of your visit to stock up on souvenirs.

Few museums anywhere have such unconventional collections: Tijuana-themed ephemera, postcards, old telephones, superhero toys and memorabilia, and an entire floor dedicated to Lucha Libre, Mexico’s unique wrestling style. Situated in the heart of Tijuana in a renovated restaurant, MUCOTI (Museo del Coleccionista de Tijuana) isn’t the trendiest museum in the city, but it’s the most unexpected and nostalgic.

No Cancun vacation is complete without some time enjoying its scenic stretches of white sand, and Playa Tortugas is a popular public beach with a lively atmosphere. Here you’ll find places to rent umbrellas and chairs, plus plenty of restaurants to grab some fish tacos or a piña colada.

Overlooking Cancún and the Caribbean Sea, Nichupté Lagoon System is an enormous nature reserve that holds seven fresh and saltwater lagoons including Río Inglés, Rio del Amor, Caleta Nizuc y Bojórquez, and Nichupté itself. Surrounded by natural beauty, it’s an ideal spot for water-based adventures, wildlife-spotting, and sunset-viewing.

Leafy streets, bustling bars, and international cuisine—not to mention some of the city’s top museums and art galleries—make the Roma neighborhood an essential Mexico City stop. One of the top places to explore both street art and street food, Roma is a must for cool and curious travelers in the Mexican capital.

Overlooking the Caribbean Sea, just south of the Tulum Archaeological Site, Playa Paraiso (or Paradise Beach in English) is a lovely stretch of white sand dotted with palm trees that leads into turquoise waters. Vacationers come here to relax, snag a lounge chair at the beach club, and swim in the ocean.

El Castillo (Pyramid of Kukulkán) is an impressive structure that dominates Chichen Itza, showcasing the Mayans’ architectural and astronomical acumen. Admire its precise design, especially during the equinoxes when a shadow serpent appears on its staircase. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chichen Itza draws travelers looking to explore Maya culture, history, and the mysteries of ancient civilizations.

For soft sand and shallow sea that stretches out on either side of you, wade your way to Punta Mosquito on Isla Holbox’s northern coast. The scenic sandbank forms part of the wider Yum Balam Reserve, where intrepid visitors and photographers paddle out in the hope of seeing the marine life and flamingos that congregate there.

With its crystal-clear waters, Cenote Jardín del Eden (Garden of Eden Cenote) is considered one of the most beautiful open cenotes in the Riviera Maya region. Surrounded by lush rainforest, it resembles a large natural swimming pool and is a great destination for snorkelers and scuba divers thanks to exceptional underwater visibility. The popular locale is also known as Cenote Ponderosa (and you may hear Cenote Eden or Eden Cenote, as well).

Escape from the crowds of Mexico’s second-busiest airport at Cancún Airport VIP Lounge. While you wait for boarding to begin, relax on comfortable seating, kick back with a magazine, and take advantage of an open bar replete with both soft and alcoholic drinks.

Situated in the expansive Chapultepec Park, Papalote Children’s Museum is a place where playing and learning overlap. As you make your way through six zones of interactive exhibits and a vast outdoor garden, you can explore the human body, watch as Mexican history comes alive, power up a robot, and much more.

Formerly known as Estadio Azul due to being the home of the Cruz Azul soccer team, Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes is a 36,000-seater stadium in Mexico City. Now home to Atlante Football Club, the sporting venue hosts high-octane matches throughout the soccer season.

Fábrica La Aurora whirred out endless bolts of bright cloth for nearly 90 years. Today, this former textile mill is a complex of galleries, artist studios, and antique shops, where you’ll find artists from San Miguel de Allende and beyond who work in paint, sculpture, and textiles. There are also galleries with specialities that range from fine art to handicrafts, plus on-site restaurants and cafés.

Established in 1870, the family-run Casa Herradura hacienda sits on the outskirts of Amatitán, a village near Guadalajara in the heart of Mexico’s tequila country. Explore the vast Casa Herradura Distillery, a major player in the Mexican tequila scene; sample its wares; and take in the area’s natural beauty.

Located at the southern end of Cabo San Lucas, Land’s End features dramatic rock formations jutting out into the sea, hidden beaches, and a rich variety of sea life. Here you can seek out the remote stretch of sand known as Lover’s Beach, admire sunbathing sea lions, and see the picturesque Arch of Cabo San Lucas (El Arco).

This UNESCO World Heritage Site has been called Mexico’s Sistine Chapel, and the 18th-century temple complex is a masterpiece. Whitewashed outer walls give way to a riot of color, from murals adorning the nave and chapels to statuary, paintings, and gleaming altars. The Jesuit religious site is among the finest examples of baroque art and architecture in the New World.

With roots dating back to the late 18th century, this winemaker is among the oldest in Baja California and North America. A venerable institution locally and internationally, Bodegas de Santo Tomás has won dozens of medals in recent decades, and you can visit not only the winery, but tasting rooms around the Ensenada area.

With its otherworldly stalactites descending from the ceiling, Cenote Xkeken is undoubtedly one of the Yucatan’s most spectacular swimming holes. The water is crystal clear, and the limestone structure has natural holes through which the sunlight streams, illuminating the water and adding to the mystical atmosphere of the cenote.

If you’re looking for a luxurious golf course and resort on the Cabo San Lucas coast, this top-line beauty is probably it. The resort blends all the amenities with natural beauty: coastal dunes, ocean and beach views, and even an artificial “swimming lagoon” at the center. To golf at any of the high-end courses, you’ll usually need to be a resort guest or member, and to pay caddy and golf fees.

Five uninhabited islands lie in the Sea of Cortez within Loreto Bay National Park, a swath of protected coastal and (mostly) marine areas near the somewhat under-the-radar resort town of the same name. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park draws travelers looking for Baja Sur’s sea-and-desert outdoor activities, who typically make Loreto their base, then head straight for the islands.

This pink-tinted confection of towers, domes, and Gothic windows is among San Miguel de Allende’s most beloved landmarks and sits at the heart of the city’s UNESCO-listed historic center. It gives off a rosy glow on sunny afternoons, then lights up dramatically after dark. Whether you come for the architecture or drop by a well-attended Sunday mass, this is a don’t-miss site.

Cenotes, underground sinkholes filled with cool, fresh water, are a highlight of any visit to the Yucatan. As sunlight floods through the vine-decked ceiling of Hubiku Cenote, illuminating the turquoise waters and limestone formations, it’s easy to see why the ancient Maya considered these sacred places gateways to the underworld.

At Playa Zicatela, arguably the country’s most famous surfing spot, the Mexican Pipeline creates some of Latin America’s best waves. This exhilarating swell should only be attempted by experienced surfers—the exceptionally strong currents can be dangerous for swimmers and beginners—but anyone can enjoy the golden sands, which are made for soaking up the sun of Oaxaca’s coastline.

In the heart of downtown Mexico City, the Barrio Chino is the Mexican capital's Chinatown. It's spread out over two blocks and features all sorts of Chinese shops and restaurants, along with Chinese-inspired architectural features such as paifangs (traditional gateways).

Isla Blanca is a long, narrow sand-tongue peninsula about 12 miles (20 kilometers) north of Cancun, perched between the turquoise Caribbean Sea and the Chacmuchuch Lagoon. With its wide beaches, shallow waters, and few tourist developments, it offers a more relaxed, natural option than the busier Hotel Zone. Whether you’re kitesurfing or beach lounging, you’ll experience an unspoiled shoreline.

As Mexico City’s first gourmet food market, classic Mexican dishes—think tacos and tamales—are given a modern twist at Mercado Roma. In the sophisticated Roma neighborhood, the market features communal tables where you can feast on everything from artisanal Mexican cheese to Spanish tapas and high-end ice creams. It’s the ultimate place to sample stylish street food in CDMX.

Officially called Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar, this fortress overlooking the Bacalar Lagoon was built in the late 18th century to protect Spanish colonists and Maya villagers from pirate attacks. Today, the fortress is a national historic monument—the canons, ramparts, and lagoon views remain, and an on-site museum exhibits period armaments and uniforms.

Located in a modern area of Tijuana, a short stroll from the Baja-California border, this museum and cultural center is punctuated by a massive sandstone sphere—a dome-shaped IMAX theater affectionately called the ball or la bola. A hothouse of contemporary and traditional art, music, and theater, CECUT hosts exhibits and performances to promote Mexican (and Baja) identity and tourism.

Playa Las Gatas in Zihuatanejo is a beautiful, tranquil beach known for its crystal-clear waters and vibrant marine life. Visitors flock to this spot to go snorkeling and swimming, as well as to relax under the sun. Take a boat or a hike to this getaway, and you’ll be rewarded with views, calm waves and a laid-back atmosphere.

Situated in a jagged David Chipperfield–designed building, the Jumex Museum (Museo Jumex) is both architecturally and artistically noteworthy. Comprising numerous exhibition galleries, a library, and terrace, this museum houses the private contemporary collection of Eugenio López Alonso—one of the largest of its kind in Latin America—including works by Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, and more.